Commit to a start date and watch inertia vanish

Carlos had dreamed for years of launching a side hustle selling custom woodwork. Every weekend he sketched designs and watched tutorial videos, yet his website never went live. He told himself he needed more prototypes, better photos, perfect copy—so he waited. Finally, after reading about deadline-driven action, he picked a date three weeks out and committed to it on his family’s shared calendar.

Over the next three weeks, Carlos worked methodically—he built one product, shot photos in the morning light, wrote a short bio. Each day he crossed off a task and high-fived himself at the end of the night. When the launch date arrived, he had a polished site and a small but eager email list.

On launch day he made his first sale within hours. In business research, giving yourself a clear start date is proven to overcome inertia by creating a sense of urgency and accountability. Suddenly, Carlos’s side project wasn’t a vague desire but a time-bound commitment backed by consistent, manageable action.

Decide your official kickoff. Block it on your calendar as non-negotiable. Then, create a checklist of bite-sized steps you’ll tackle each day—no excuses. As you complete each little task, pause and celebrate that progress. You’ll find your doubts fading as your confidence builds. And when launch day arrives, you won’t be starting; you’ll be sprinting. Give yourself that deadline, and watch your dream go live.